Back in the game: How ‘Sarvam Maya’ marks Nivin Pauly’s big comeback

Nivin Pauly is clearly back in the game. 'Sarvam Maya' has become the film that brought him back to the centre stage. The movie released on Christmas 2025 and slowly turned into a big success.

It crossed the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide and surprised many people. The film even did better than Mohanlal’s 'Vrusshabha' during the festive clash.

Why the role worked so well

In 'Sarvam Maya', Nivin plays a troubled Hindu priest who meets a Gen-Z ghost. The mix of comedy, emotion, and fantasy worked well with the audience. At 41, Nivin looked relaxed and confident on screen. People felt they were seeing the old Nivin again. His timing, body language, and soft humour reminded fans why they loved him so much earlier. Critics and viewers agreed that this role brought back his natural charm.

From rise to fall and back again

Nivin Pauly started his journey in a simple way. He studied engineering and even worked at Infosys before choosing cinema. His debut came in 'Malarvaadi Arts Club' in 2010. Films like 'Thattathin Marayathu', 'Neram', and 'Premam' made him a youth icon.

'Premam' changed everything for him. But after 'Moothon', his film choices did not work well at the box office. Some films were delayed. Some did not connect with people. Slowly, he went out of focus while others moved ahead. His short but powerful role in 'Varshangalkku Shesham' gave a hint that he was ready to return.

Vineeth Sreenivasan says Nivin is making a serious effort

Earlier in a talk with Ginger media, Vineeth Sreenivasan said, "A recent video of Nivin Pauly in his Premam look went viral a few days ago. When I saw it, I felt very happy. I even shared it on Facebook." He further said, "Right now, Nivin is making a serious effort. He is trying to change himself, including his body. Maybe we will get the old Nivin back. He has already taken up three or four films. The first among them will be Dear Students. The shooting of that film is currently going on. After that, the film everyone is waiting for is the second part of Action Hero Biju. That movie worked extremely well in theatres. So there is a lot of curiosity about what the second part will do. For Abrid Shine also, it is a very important film. For Nivin too, it is equally important."

Box office numbers show the love

'Sarvam Maya' is still doing well even after 17 days in theatres. In the first 16 days, the film earned Rs 59.45 crore. On Day 17, it added around Rs 2.70 crore. The total India net collection now stands at Rs 62.15 crore. The film showed steady growth. Day 15 collected Rs 1.5 crore. Day 16 collected Rs 1.75 crore. Day 17 saw a clear jump as reported by the Sacnilk website.


Looking ahead, 2026 looks busy for Nivin Pauly. He has 'Baby Girl', 'Benz', 'Multiverse Manmadhan' and more films lined up.


With 'Sarvam Maya', he has proved one thing clearly. He is not done yet. He is back. And this time, he looks ready to stay. Like his dialogue in 'Varshangalkku Shesham' - 'Ottakku Vazhi Vetti Vannavan aada' ('I paved my own path guys').Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”